Key-hole guard



(No Model.)

L. GADDIS.

KEY HOLE GUARD.

No. 454,789. Patented June 23, 1891.

F ZZL/ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCY GADDIS, OF GOLD HILL, TERRITORY OF NEIV MEXICO.

KEY-HOLE GUARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,789, dated June 23, 1891. 1

Application filed January 1'7, 1891. Serial No. 378,146. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUCY GADDIS, of Gold Hill, in the county of Grant and Territory of New Mexico, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Key-Hole Guards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in key-hole guards; and it consists in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter, and pointed out in the claims.

The object of my invention is to provide a lock with a pivoted plate, which can be turned down across the key-hole, so that no one can insert an instrument of any kind into the look for the purpose of picking it.

The accompanying drawing represents a lock to which my invention is applied.

A represents a lock of any suitable description, and pivoted therein upon either oneof the plates of the lock is a plate B, having on its lower edge an arm D, which extends beyond the pivotal point for operating the plate, and which acts as a guard for the keyhole. Through the bottom edge of the lock is made a slot 0 of suitable length, and the lower end of this plate, which is preferably shaped as shown, is made to extend through this slot sufficiently far to be readily operated by hand. Then the plate is turned into an upright position, it is moved from over the key-hole, and

then a key can be freely inserted; but when the inner end of the plate is turned down into a horizontal position it extends directly across the key-hole and prevents either a key or an instrument of any kind from being inserted.

In order to prevent an implement from being inserted into the lock and catching under the lower edge of the pivoted plate, and thus raising it so as to move it from across the key-hole, a slidingbolt G is used. This bolt extends horizontally through the inner end of the lock, and when forcedinward catches over the upper edge of the pivoted plate when itis turned across thekey-hole, and thus prevents the plate from being raised. Before the plate can be raised into an upright position the bolt must be withdrawn, and this no person can do from the outer side of the door.

By means of the simple devices here shown doors are made absolutely safe from the insertion of false keys, wires, or other devices used by burglars for the purpose of effecting an entrance into the house.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with a lock having an opening in'its lower edge, of a key-hole guard consisting of a plate pivoted at one edge to the inner side of the look at one side of the key-hole and having an integral operatingarm, which extends downward through the said opening and then along the lower edge of the look at the opposite side of the pivot from the said plate, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a lock having an opening through one edge,0f akey-holeguard consisting of a plate pivoted to the inner side of the lock and having an integral operatingarm, which extends through the said opening,

and a sliding bolt passing through the lockplate above the upper edge of the guard-plate and engages therewith for lockin g it, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LU CY GADDIS. lVitnesses:

R. B. J ONES, MATT DULLAHAN. 

